The Public Health Ministry plans to hand out free condoms to
scouts who request them during the World Scout Jamboree in Chon Buri from Saturday
till January 7.

The ministry's inspector general Dr Pipat Yingseri yesterday revealed that
condoms will be on supply at the jamboree as reports of participants engaging
in sex had emerged from past jamborees.

"We've talked about this issue from the very beginning, but we didn't
want to publicise it as we feared the publicity may encourage more people
to do it," Pipat said.

Despite control measures, it was still possible for some couples to engage
in sexual activity at the event, he said.

"So please ask for condoms if you need some. Or please buy them from
nearby convenience shops," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Health Minister Pracha Phromnok said that the country's
hot and humid weather was probably the major health concern for jamboree participants.

"I am worried for the scouts from European countries as they may suffer
from heat exhaustion and may even faint due to the heat," he said.

He was speaking during an inspection of Sattahip's Hadyao beach to determine
whether health-related preparations were ready.

Pracha said booklets would be handed out to the scouts advising them to drink
plenty of water and rest when feeling tired. He also urged the scouts to use
sun block to prevent sunburn.

"This is a tropical zone and the scouts will expose themselves a lot
to the sun while doing outdoor activities," he added.

As for other preparations, Pracha said the Public Health Ministry had sprayed
chemicals during the last two months to eradicate flies, mosquitoes and gnats
at the site. "The chemical spraying is conducted every five days and
will be done again in the next few days," he added.

Flytraps would be installed around the jamboree's campsite as well, he said.

Random checks on samples have found that food, fruits and water are contamination-free,
Pracha said.

His ministry would operate a field hospital at the campground to provide
full medical services to the scouts, he said.

Ambulances would also be available as it is estimated that there will be
up to 1,000 patients a day during the event. Five large polyclinics in the
area would be open round-the-clock to cater to the medical needs of the scouts.

Deputy Education Minister Pongpol Adireksarn said scouts from some foreign
countries had already arrived in Thailand.